My aim is to offer insights into some of the more subtle principles underpinning prints. The commentary is based on thirty-eight years of teaching and the prints and other collectables that I am focusing on are those which I have acquired over the years.
In the galleries of prints (accessed by clicking the links immediately below) I am also adding fresh images offered for sale. If you get lost in the maze of links, simply click the "home" button to return to the blog discussions.

Condition: well-inked and well-printed 19th century impression
with generous margins (as published) in near faultless condition (i.e. there
are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or foxing).

I am selling this strong impression of one of Swanevelt’s most
beautiful large etchings capturing the merged spirits of Italian classical composition
with a Dutch love for objective representation, for the total cost of AU$198
(currently US$147.57/EUR124.33/GBP109.31 at the time of posting this etching)
including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this near pristine impression
showing virtually no wear to the printing plate, please contact me
(oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make
the payment easy.

In one of my earlier discussions about Swanevelt’s etchings I
mentioned that the artist’s first name, “Herman”, was a nickname given to him
because of his love of “immersing” himself in the landscape in the sense of
being a hermit—a real “Herman the Hermit.” When I was enlarging details of this
print I was surprised to find what I believe is a tiny self portrait of the
artist at work on his easel (see him with a companion on the far distant ridge
of the mountain).

My vision of Swanevelt being immersed in the landscape fits well
with what is portrayed in this scene: a landscape where the scale of the trees
and mountain dwarf the nine folk engaged in their everyday activities. This is
a landscape where the underpinning concept behind the composition is to project
an aura of grandeur and awe inspiring poetic beauty—a sublime vision of
landscape.

1 comment:

… mm … I think I may be wrong about my earlier idea that there is a self-portrait of the artist working happily on his easel on the mountainside. When I was posting the details I had a close look at the “self-portrait” and I’ve now decided that what I thought was an easel leg is simply a “slipped” stroke and the two figures are simply shown going for a stroll with the closer figure having the assistance of a walking stick. (sigh)